Johnnies Advance to Semifinals with Win over Lutes

Fargo, N.D. -- The Saint John's University football team scored 24 points in the second half to break open a 7-0 halftime lead and defeat Pacific Lutheran University 31-6 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III football playoffs. The game was played at the Fargodome due to a winter storm that hit Minnesota this week, which caused SJU's Clemens Stadium to be unplayable.

SJU got on the scoreboard on its first possession of the game as Josh Nelson scored on a six-yard run. The opening drive lasted 10 plays on 82 yards. That was all of the scoring that either team would muster before the half ran out.

On its first possession on the second half, the Johnnies drove to the Lute 11-yard line as the drive ended with a 28-yard field goal by Brandon Keller. This drive went 50 yards, on 13 plays, and took 6:03 off of the clock. The Johnnies took over a few minutes later in the third quarter and turned a PLU fumble into six points as Ryan Keating connected with Blake Elliot on a 12-yard pass. The drive went six plays for 39 yards and lasted 2:16.

The next Johnnie score came on their next possession as they drove 38 yards on four plays in 1:14. This time Keating connected with Jeff Radel on a 25-yard pass after taking control of the ball following a Cole Deibele interception. After three quarters the score was 24-0 in favor of SJU.

About 10 minutes into the fourth quarter the Johnnies scored their fourth touchdown of the day on a 16-yard scamper by Kent Crowley. This three-play drive lasted 1:20 and went 29 yards after SJU took over on downs at the PLU 29 yard-line.

With just over two minutes left in the game, the Lutes broke onto the scoreboard via a four-yard run by Chris Pitzer. The drive went nine plays for 66 yards, and took 3:22.

Among the statistical leaders for SJU, Josh Nelson ran the ball 27 times for 90 yards and had the one score. Ryan Keating was 19-for-29 passing with one interception and threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. The top receivers for the Johnnies were Jeff Radel and Blake Elliott who both had five catches for 90 and 48 yards, respectively. Each had their one score.

For Pacific Lutheran, Tyler Teeple was 20-for-50 passing, for 264 yards, and threw two interceptions. Kyle Brown hauled in seven catches and had 136 yards receiving on the day. PLU was hampered by the fact that they turned the ball over five times in the game.

The Johnnies played well defensively as well as they limited the Lutes to minus-one yard rushing on 20 carries. The top tacklers for SJU were Brad Beyer who had eight, and Jason Pflipsen with six. Matt Darling also had 1.5 sacks.

The game marked the fourth consecutive season that the Johnnies and Lutes have played in the playoffs, with SJU wining three of the four meetings. The game also set a NCAA record for the most combined wins by the two respective head coaches. SJU's John Gagliardi, in his 53rd season, now has 388 wins, PLU's Frosty Westering, in his 38th season, has 294 wins.